2013 Sunday Night NFL Picks: Washington Redskins @ Dallas Cowboys Odds and Predictions – Free Sunday Night Football Picks 10/13/2013

2013 Sunday Night NFL Picks: Washington Redskins @ Dallas Cowboys Odds and Predictions – Free Sunday Night Football Picks 10/13/2013: Last year, the Washington Redskins and Dallas Cowboys met in the regular season finale with the NFC East title up for grabs. When the two teams met again this weekend on Sunday Night Football, a share of the division lead could again be on the line, albeit in drastically different circumstances. Despite a 2-3 record, the Cowboys are currently on top of a dreadful NFC East while the Redskins are still in the thick of things despite a 1-3 start. Poor records or not, a lot is at stake for both teams in the matchup, and playing at home, Dallas is a 5 ½-point favorite.

A year after leading the NFL in rushing and boasting a top-five defense against the run, the Redskins have been out of sorts on both sides of the ball. Quarterback Robert Griffin III hasn’t been able to make explosive plays with his legs, and the defense ranks in the bottom five against the run and the pass. As a result, the Redskins have been forced to throw the ball a lot in order to dig out of early holes, rendering running back Alfred Morris largely useless despite averaging 5.3 yards per carry. Meanwhile, Griffin has already thrown four interceptions after throwing just five all of last season.

For the Cowboys, a top-10 passing attack and stout run defense has been offset by an inconsistent ground attack and porous secondary. Quarterback Tony Romo has thrown for more than 1,500 yards and 13 touchdowns with receiver Dez Bryant and tight end Jason Witten doing a lot of the damage. Meanwhile, running back DeMarco Murray has run for 399 yards, but 175 yards came in one game. On the defensive end, Dallas is allowing the second-most passing yards in the NFL. However, outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware does lead a strong pass rush.

The Redskins Win If:

If the Redskins are going to win, they have to get their offense on track early in the game. Falling behind early will not only force Washington to abandon Morris and the ground attack, but a one-dimensional offense will also allow Ware and company to be turned loose on Griffin. On the defensive end, the Redskins have to offer some kind of resistance. Whether the unit forces a turnover or a couple of punts, Washington needs its defense to at least hold its own in order to have a chance. If the Redskins can maintain a balanced attack on offense and trade blows with Romo and company from start to finish, they can win the game with just a play or two from their defense.

The Cowboys Win If:

A fast start on offense for the Cowboys will set them up for success in this game. If Romo and company can attack the struggling Redskins’ defense early and build a lead, Griffin and company will once again have to change their game plan in order to catch up. Defensively, Dallas needs to shut down the Washington ground attack to further attempt to force Griffin to become a pocket passer and force the Redskins’ offense to become one dimensional. For the Cowboys, building a lead, stopping the run and pressuring Griffin should be a nice recipe for a win.

Bottom Line:

Although both teams have serious issues on both sides of the ball, there are a few matchups that should tip the scale in favor of the Cowboys. For one, the only thing the Dallas defense does well is stop the run, and the Redskins want to run the ball first and foremost on offense. In addition, the Cowboys’ offense has been effective throwing the ball most of the year, and the Washington secondary is as porous as they come. Granted, the Redskins should be able to hit some big plays of their own against the Dallas secondary, but Washington will likely be trying to come from behind again in this one, and the Cowboys have a solid pass rush. In a game that should end up becoming a battle between Romo and Griffin, the Dallas defense should be able to make enough plays to seal the deal.

Prediction: Dallas Cowboys (-5 ½) Cover the Spread

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